Solution Providers Build E-Biz Services

As solution providers build e-commerce solutions, they are enabling customers to deliver both products and services via the Web, according to a January Reality Research & Consulting study that gathered 4,137 responses from solution provider companies in North America.

Nearly half of solution providers (45 percent) are providing e-commerce services for selling products on the Internet. An identical number are providing e-commerce services for customer support and self service over the Internet.

The findings provide the latest evidence that the indirect channel is providing mission-critical online tools as end-customer businesses advance their strategies for delivering products and services on the Internet. Looking ahead through July 2001, solution providers predict their strongest e-business sales growth will be realized from services for site design and branding, according to CRN's January Technology Poll. Nearly two in 10 solution providers (17 percent) see the most gains for site design and branding, while one in 10 forecast the best opportunities in Intranet development (11 percent) and storefront creation (11 percent).

Reality Research fielded its survey on the Web using Rapid Online Automated Response (ROAR) technology. To query solution providers, Reality polled its Reality Channel Panel. The panel's membership mirrors the North American channel universe of 93,500 solution provider organizations and includes companies of all sizes. Panelists have agreed to participate in monthly studies for one year, and have provided in-depth demographic and firmagraphic data about their organizations, enabling Reality to analyze survey responses by more than 100 data points.